pistol-whip

verb

pis·​tol-whip
pistol-whipped; pistol-whipping; pistol-whips

transitive verb

: to beat with a pistol

Examples of pistol-whip in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The other men tried to stop the fight, but Moua took out a gun and tried to pistol-whip Yang in the face. Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 22 Apr. 2025 Reddit user u/mmm-pistol-whip from Providence, Rhode Island, took to social media on December 28 to show the state of his girlfriend's room after testing out the new humidifier. Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025 Authorities said he pistol-whipped and punched a man and ordered an associate to shoot and kill the man and another person. Michael Casey, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2025 Police Chief Todd Chamberlain previously said the victims, a man and woman who lived at the complex, were bound, pistol-whipped, threatened and tortured for hours. Max Levy, The Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pistol-whip

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pistol-whip was circa 1930

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pistol-whip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pistol-whip. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

pistol-whip

verb
: to beat with a pistol

More from Merriam-Webster on pistol-whip

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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